ROME - Vittorio Sgarbi, the Junior Minister of Culture, went on another foul-mouthed rant, attacking two journalists for questioning him over alleged possession of a stolen 17^th century painting, during a broadcast for Report on Rai3. In an outburst that has shocked the nation, he told the journalists “if you die in a car crash I will be happy.”

 Sgarbi attacked Manuele Bonaccorsi of Report and Thomas Mackinson of Fatto Quotidiano, saying they were asking him too many questions about his alleged possession of a painting by Rutilio Manetti which had been reported stolen from a Piedmont castle in 2013.

 Macerata Public Prosecutor’s Office is already investigating Sgarbi for allegedly laundering cultural assets. Sgarbi has denied the claims, calling the stolen painting a “bad copy” of the Capture of Saint Peter. He has previously said the painting in his possession is the “original”, which he alleges to have found while restoring a villa in Viterbo.

 He lashed out at the journalists, telling them to “stop pissing [him] off” and to “get the fuck out of [his] way.” Repeatedly swearing, he also attacked the host Sigfrido Ranucci telling him to “fuck off.” Sgarbi called all three of them “as ignorant as goats”, saying that they “didn’t know a fucking thing.” He also made obscene gestures and mimicked unzipping his trousers while threatening “I’ll also pull my dick out so you can put it on air.”

 Meloni has so far ignored calls from the opposition to remove Sgarbi from his post. He was removed from his post as mayor of Salemi in 2012 by the Minister of the Interior because he failed to acknowledge mafia interference in his cabinet. In 2020 he was forcibly carried out of the House of Deputies after insulting the Speaker.

 khg